Current weather

Greenbrier High School athletic director and head softball coach Garrett Black reached a major milestone this week. The Pack won Game 1 of their double-header with Warner Robins 13-0 in four innings for the 500th victory of Black’s career. Greenbrier would go on to take Game 2 by 19-0 in three innings for the series sweep.

Former Grovetown and Harlem football star Seth Hill started off his 2012 season with a bang. The 5-11, 200-pound sophomore running back broke loose for 144 yards on just 16 carries as Fort Valley State opened the year with a 31-23 win over Delta State.

I was 4-2 last week, but probably do not deserve credit for all four correct picks. Even though I picked Harlem to win, I had it as a tight game. The Bulldogs crushed Social Circle 35-0. Congratulations to Jimmie Lewis and his team on a tremendous performance. Also, Evans had a great bounce-back win, knocking off Jefferson County, and Lakeside overwhelmed a previously unbeaten Westside 43-7.

Former Lakeside Panther Brian Bratton, of the Canadian Football League’s Montreal Alouettes, will miss several weeks because of a hyperextended knee.

Bratton was injured on a spectacular play that helped Montreal top Saskatchewan 28-17. Bratton took a short pass from quarterback Anthony Calvillo and raced toward the goal line. Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive back Chris McKenzie met him there and the two collided as Bratton leaped for the end zone. He made the touchdown but was injured in the process.

I missed a couple of games last week, but I was also dead-on in a couple. I picked Augusta Christian to beat Fox Creek 45-20. The final was 38-20. I also predicted Thomas Jefferson Academy would win by six points over Augusta Prep, and they did, escaping with a 44-38 victory.

Augusta Christian quarterback Tyler Roberson should be a household name in Columbia County football. After all, how many kids start at the quarterback position for four years? I can answer that – none. That is how many I know of in my lifetime in Columbia County.

Heck, just to start for four years in high school is extremely rare. Starting at quarterback is unheard of. Despite that incredible feat, Roberson has flown under the radar for several reasons.

With many teams in Georgia changing region and classification, it has been a little tougher to pick games this year. This week, with four of our county teams playing schools they have never faced, will be no different. There are, however, some interesting match-ups that really make me look forward to Thursday and Friday.

Former Westside basketball star Will Avery is offering area high school players a tremendous opportunity to get some extra work in before the 2012-13 season tips off. On Saturdays at Evans High School, Avery has set up a fall basketball league for high school aged players. The league will consist of three games each Saturday beginning at noon. In addition to the games, Avery will conduct a skill development session prior to the games each week. The skill sessions will be 10–11:30 a.m.

I have never been happier to be wrong than I was this past week. I predicted ARC would edge Evans in a close game. Instead the Knights looked terrific in a 21-12 victory. Ronnie Graham was sensational for Evans. The Junior tailback ran for 227 yards and 3 scores. The thing that most stood out for me was the effort by the Knights.